brace



Patented Aug'. 16, 1887.

C. :H:l THILL GOUPLING (No ModeL) WITN ESSES Nrrnn PATENT Fries,

CHARLES H. BRACE, OF CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,451, dated August 16, 1887.

Application tiled Marcil 30, 1887.

.T0 all whom, i? may concern:

Be it known that I, CiLiuLus H. Buiten, a' citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Cumberland, in the county of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rPhill-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of this invention, and is a top View. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a portion of the thill-coupling.` Fig. 3 is a vertical section.

rIhis invention has relation to thill and pole couplings; and it consists in the construction and novel combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

The object of this invention is to provide a coupling that may be quickly attached or detached, so that pole or shafts may be fitted or changed in a few seconds, and that will hold up the pole or shafts out of the, way when not in use. v

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the clip, having a 'front socket or recess, B, for the reception of the rubber cushion or spring C. Arms D D of the clip extend forward on each side, and areadapted to hold the journal portion E of the pole or shaft iron F in the 'following manner: The arms D D are circularly recessed in their inner sides, as indicated at G, said recesses having notches H above to let thejournal-lugs K of the iron F down into position for coupling. In the operation of attaching or detaching the poles or shafts are held upright, or nearly so, the journal-iron descending or ascending in the clip bearing. lVhen, however, the shafts arc turned forward and downward, the coupling is secured, and there is no danger of casual disconnection.

The journal portion E of the pole or shaft Serial No. 233,037. (No model.)

iron is of flattened form, having the lateral flattened journal-lugs K, above referred to, which, when the shaft-iron is in attached position, engage the circular bearing-recesses of the arms D. Shoulders are formed at Il upon the iron to move upon the forward guidingedges, mi, of the arms D, so that the iron is held true and steady in its movements.

Downwardly-extending notches or recesses Z are formed vertically under the enteringnotches H in the arms D at the lower portions of their recess-bearings G, and communicating with said recess-bearings, in order that when the pole or shafts are not in use they may be held in upright or nearly upright position out of the way. To accomplish this by means of the devices set forth, the shafts are turned back to upright position, so that the journal portion of the iron F, descending into engagement with the holding notches or recesses Z, the lugs K being made .sufficientlyY broad, will, as the shafts are allowed to fall slightlyT forward, engage the front walls of the recessbearings G. In this manner the lugs K will be held in position, their upper ends being in contact with the front walls of the bearings G and their lower ends in the holding-notches Z, and consequently' the shafts will be held up. rIo put the shafts in position for use, they are slightly turned backward and raised until the lugs K escape from the holdingnotches Z, when the shafts may be turned down to horizontal position.

This coupling is very simple and durable, and is of quick application. No bolt is required, and the time of attaching or detaching or changing from thills to pole is designed to be materially reduced thereby. The device for holding up the shafts is simple and efficient, and is of' importance in saving wear and tear of the dash and springs consequent upon propping up the shafts, as well as in obviating injury to thc shafts themselves.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S

rIhe combination, with the clip A, having the socket B and rubber, and the lateral Walls of said journal-bearings, substantially arms D D, circularly recessed n thei1` innei` as specified. Io sides to form journal-bearings, provided With l In testimony whereof I affix my signature in communicating entering-notches H above and presence of two Witnesses.

5 holding-notches Z below, of the flattened CHARLES H. BRACE.

journal-iron E, having broad side lugs, K, adapted when the shaftsare turned up to engage said holding-notches and the front i Witnesses:

I. W. SHUCK, WALTER BnALL. 

